First BKS Indo-Bahrain Dance and Music Festival officially inaugurated

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director-General, Culture and Arts at Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, last night officially inaugurated the First Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) India-Bahrain Dance, Music Festival.

Present on the occasion were Indian Ambassador Piyush Srivastava, Chairman of Bahrain Indian Society and leading businessman Abdulrahman Juma, BKS President P V Radhakrishna Pillai, General Secretary Varghese Karakkal, Festival Director Soorya Krishnamoorthy and BKS Official Prashanth Govindapuram.

Speaking on the occasion, Shaikha Hala said she was really glad to be part of the Indian cultural extravaganza.

“I wish the organizers very best in this endeavour and let this event be a great success.” Mr Srivastava said showcasing Indian cultural treasures in a country, which possesses great cultural heritage is a matter of great happiness.

“This is also a bond of great friendship between India and Bahrain.” Mr Pillai said the event offers boundless pride and satisfaction to every BKS member, for they worked hard, day and night, to make this great dream a reality.

“This festival is a tribute to great leaders of two nations - India and Bahrain - for taking the bilateral relations to new heights. “This is also the proud 75th year of existence for Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam,” he highlighted.

The festival is all set to showcase the performances of legendary Indian artists. On May 7, a Carnatic music concert will be conducted by Abhishek Raghuram and his team of accompanying musicians.

Music exponent with the voice of a nightingale, Nithyasree Mahadevan and her team will perform a concert on May 8th. A dance drama production from Bahrain, Buddha – The Divine, by Vidyasree, with music composition by Palakkad Sreeram, and lyrics by L Sampathkumar, will grace the stage on May 9th.

South India’s most favoured singer – music director M Jayachandran, accompanied by Sankaran Namboodiri, Sreevalsan J Menon, Lalu Sukumar and team, will bring a night of melody on May 10.

Artists from the Kingdom of Bahrain will perform on May 11. A Kathak performance by Khalil Alashar will be followed by a concert by the band Majaz Bahrain.

On May 12 is a classical instrumental night headed by Mysore Nagaraj, Dr Mysore Manjunath on the violin, accompanied by Thiruvaroor Bhakthavalsalan, Alappuzha R Karunamoorthy, and Giridhar Udupa.

On May 13 is a concert by the man with the enchanting fingers, Rajhesh Vaidya, and his team Bhuvanesh, Kumaran, Mohan and Sai Hari. May 14 will showcase a once in a lifetime night of music by the Sarod Maestros Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash.

The BKS Indo-Bahrain Dance and Music Festival is conducted in association with the Embassy of India, Bahrain, Authority for Culture and Antiquities, and Ministry of Social Development, Kingdom of Bahrain.